Metal Mulisha

XLR8
Shop name: XLR8 (that’s “Accelerate” for those who may be a little slow)
Year shop opened: 2002
Owner’s name: Chris Turck
Your name and job title: Josh Albright – Store Manager
Address: 8001 S. Orange Blossom Tr. #702 Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-859-3003
Shop hours: Monday to Saturday 10 A.M. – 9 P.M. and Sunday 12 P.M. – 6 P.M.
Website: RIDEXLR8.COM

XLR8 How’s the shop doing?
The shop is doing well, we are constantly growing. We currently have 7 locations in the Central Florida Market. Our area is so flooded with competition but our original ideas and superior customer service brings in all the loyal customers we need.

Who is your typical customer?
We get a lot of guys from MMI (the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute) because it is right down the road and a lot of kids who skateboard, wakeboard, and ride moto. We also get a lot of tourists, some of which we can’t understand a damn word they say.

Do you have any interesting shoplifting stories?
We once had a whole family try to steal a complete skateboard from us. The Father and Son ran a distraction while the Mom shoved a skateboard in the baby stroller. How is that for family values? Just last week we caught a kid shoving a pair of shoes in his jacket, so he got a free ride to jail.

XLR8 Do you get any crazy people coming in off the street?
Yeah, we always get crazy people coming in here! One time this guy who was probably 6’ 3” and 250 lbs came in holding his junk and yelling at us to let him in our bathroom. We told him we couldn’t let him use our bathroom so he started threatening to piss in the corner of the store. He even asked another manager for her Mountain Dew bottle to piss in. I thought I was going to have to forcefully get this dude out of the store as he was letting it flow. Eventually he realized we really weren’t going to let him use our bathroom and that he could have made it to the bathroom right down the hall in the time it took him to freak out on us. So he ended up running full force from the back of the store down to the bathrooms.

Do you get many hot MILF’s coming in with their kids?
Yes sir. All day, everyday.

What’s the best part of running your store?
Honestly, I would have to say the best part of running the shop is having a place to just go and be myself. I get to work with good people, meet interesting customers from all around the world and feel like I am really doing something with myself. Plus, this industry is SICK!

Does the shop ever do any special events like demos, signings, etc.?
We try to do as much of that kind of stuff as we can. We had the Mulisha guys in here for the autograph signing, we do skate jams a lot, we have set up tents at local mini-moto races, the Dew Action Sports Tour, Stunt Wars and the Vans Warped Tour, as well as other local events. Anything we can do to show our presence in the community we try to.

XLR8 Which Metal Mulisha products sell the best in your shop?
The new men’s Riot Hoody with the fur on the hood did really well; we basically sell the Hell out of anything Mulisha. But, I would have to say shirts and hats are probably the more commonly sold products.